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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-02-16 Daily Xml
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SAFEWORK SA

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (14:58): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the Minister for Industrial Relations a question about SafeWork SA.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS: Just prior to Christmas, the Australian Hotels Association President, Mr Peter Hurley, addressed a lunchtime gathering, which included Premier Weatherill, a number of ministers, members of parliament and others. Amongst the range of issues that he raised at that lunchtime function was a complaint that he had in relation to a visit from SafeWork SA to one of his hotels. He indicated that he and his business had been told by SafeWork SA staff that the drive-in bottle shop staff had to wear high-visibility vests, under the current occupational health and safety act and regulations. My questions are:

1. Can the minister indicate how many cases there have been where driveway staff in hotels have been injured by cars whilst working in the driveways of hotels?

2. Is it correct that SafeWork SA staff did advise Mr Hurley's business that driveway staff at his hotel had to wear high-visibility safety vests, under current legislation and regulations?

3. Is it current government policy, supported by the minister, that, under the current legislation and regulations, all driveway staff in all hotels in South Australia have to wear high-visibility safety vests during their working hours?

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (15:00): I thank the honourable member for his question. I was at that luncheon when Peter Hurley gave his one-hour long speech. A lot of it was off the cuff and was done in fun, poking fun at SafeWork SA. Given the fact that South Australia is one of the only states that is actually achieving its health and safety targets of significant reduction in injuries and death in the workplace, I thought it was a bit unfortunate that such important work by SafeWork had to be poked fun at, at a Christmas function where the vast majority of people there—except for myself, of course—had quite a few drinks and a good, fun day was had by all.

I am not aware of how many staff in these driveways have been injured; I will find out. The whole objective of this is to make sure that there are no injuries. We seem to want death and carnage in the workplace before SafeWork gets out there and does something. I know myself, and many members around here would probably know, when I go to a driveway to get something and I get out of the car to move somewhere it is quite dangerous with the cars going through.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I find that quite staggering.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: It is quite dangerous when they have a busy driveway and you are trying to walk through. It is quite dangerous.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: I would probably need one to protect me in those driveways.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: Judging by the nature of the speech by Mr Hurley—as I said, it was very light-hearted and fun—I could not tell whether he was serious or not as to whether staff had been advised. In saying that, I will find out. If there is a perceived danger there, I prefer SafeWork SA to do their job prior to someone getting killed or injured, rather than waiting for a death to occur.

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